24 September 2010

When I see colleagues coming towards me to ask why we messed up so badly, I run in the opposite direction.

When I am not successful in running away, I squirm and writhe fluidly with the shame of being labelled, not an Indian, but by being lumped with those Indians (and even Pakistanis) like Suresh Kalmadi, Lalit Bhanot, and the zillion others who have dirtied India Shining, thanks to the CWG exposes.

The daily dose gets dirtier as the days pass by.

No one here sees mera Bharat as mahaan. How can they? They only see Bharat as the land of stench & corruption. Bharat the beggar, who cannot, will not, do any better, tied up as she is, in the unbreakable shackles of her corrupt leaders, inept systems and helpless people. And I cannot explain this away. I lack both the words and the conviction. I don't want to explain this away!

I am proud to be Indian, but not of this India. My India, somewhere, maybe in a parallel universe, still lives.

17 September 2010

Ten hows:1. How did you get one of your scars?I have none.2. How did you celebrate your last birthday? I didn’t.3. How are you feeling at this moment? Pretty good – it’s a Friday.4. How did your night go last night? OK5. How did you do in high school? Comme ci comme ca6. How did you get the shirt you’re wearing? Got it as a gift from the Queen!7. How often do you see your best friend(s)? A LOT less often than I'd like to.8. How much money did you spend last month? More than I really wanted to.9. How old do you want to be when you get married? Just right10. How old will you be at your next birthday? A year older than what I was last year.

Nine whats:1. Your mother's name? Amma2. What did you do last weekend?Sat: Listened to Gyaneshwari discourse, got little one ready for dance class, made a garland, went to temple, listened to abhangs, housework and puja for Ganesha as it was Ganesha Charuthi. And overall spent time with the kids.Sun: Listened to Gyaneshwari discourse, housework, went to temple, listened to abhangs, And overall spent time with the kids.Last weekend was special though – the discourse/abhang bit doesn’t happen often in Wlg.3. What is the most important part of your life? All of them.4. What would you rather be? Be rich enough and responsible enough to make the world and my mind a better place.5. What did you last cry over? Not telling.6. What always makes you feel better when you’re upset? Myself & my friends7. What’s the most important thing you look for in a significant other? A sense of humour.8. What are you worried about? Worrying too much.9. What did you have for breakfast? Curry puffsEight yous:

1. Have you ever liked someone who had a girlfriend/boyfriend? ??2. Have you ever had your heart broken? Not really.3. Have you ever been out of the country? Which country?4. Have you ever done something outrageously dumb? Too many incidents to recount5. Have you ever been back stabbed by a friend?Friends – no. Relatives who I thought I was friends with: yes.6. Have you ever been seriously ill? Nope, not yet - give me some time though!7. Have you ever dated someone younger than you? Stop being so nosy!8. Have you ever read an entire book in one day? Of course.

Seven whos:1. Who was the last person you saw? Someone I didn’t want to see2. Who was the last person you texted? Dana3. Who was the last person you hung out with? My family and friends in Wlg4. Who was the last person to call you? To call me what?5. Who did you last hug? My baby.6. Who is the last person who texted you? Dana.7. Who was the last person you said “I love you” to? X

Six wheres:1. Where does your best friend(s) live? All over the world. Chennai, UK, NZ and more.2. Where did you last go? To work.3. Where did you last hang out? The washing on the line.4. Where do you go to school? I don't.5. Where is your favourite place to be? With family and friends.6. Where did you sleep last night? At home.

Five dos:1. Do you think anyone likes you? Yes, Thank God!2. Do you ever wish you were someone else? Not often.3. Do you know the muffin man? Nope.4. Does the future scare you? Nope. The present is scary enough.5. Do your parents know about your blog? Yup. Four whys:1. Why are you best friends with your best friend? She's always there for me, even if we are continents, natures and time zones apart.2. Why did you get into blogging? To keep in touch with writing and myself.3. Why did your parents give you the name you have? A granmother’s name shared between two grand-daughters. So my cousin got the first half and I got the second half.4. Why are you doing this survey? Chumma, just like that.

Three ifs:1. If you could have one super power what would it be? To make the world a happier, fairer place2. If you could go back in time and change one thing, would you? Yes.3. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could bring 1 thing, what would you bring? I honestly don’t know.

Two would you evers:1. Would you ever get back together with any of your ex’s if they asked you? What ex?2. Would you ever shave your head to save someone you love? For sure. But if they loved me, they wouldn’t ask me to!

Reading Shyam’s post on George Michael brought back so many memories of college days and the unlimited jollu-ing that was part of life then.

While we loved our firangis then, we also loved our desis just as much. Of course desis and firangis may come and go and they did (George Michael was one of themJ). But did any of them stay the favourite forever – or at least, as close to forever, which means till now, when I am twice as old as what I was then?

I racked my brains (yes, really had to) to think of who has been a constant favourite since my college days.In fact, the first and the only name that came to mind with the accompaniment of a resounding YES was Aamir Khan. There wasn’t even a close second after him.

Initially of course, I liked him for being the cutie in QS QTJ and many other movies. He was perfectly drool-worthy. Even during the times when I was ‘off’ movies, I’d make it a point to see his films (how did he continue to keep looking so young, damn it!). The last movie of his that I saw (with my best friend from college and fellow joller) before I left India, was Sarfarosh. I loved it, especially the patriotic thread that ran through the movie.

Then, after I reached NZ, there was a break – he didn’t seem to be doing any movies. What was he doing? Till Lagaan happened. And ever since then, he stopped being just another pretty face in Bollywood. And became much more.

How many other stars of his calibre and with his status would have dared to do Lagaan, at a time when to do so would have been career suicide. But now we know that was a huge hit. And then he followed on with movies like Mangal Pandey (although patriotism had become hip by the time MP came out) and Dil Chahata Hai. And then in the last few years, it’s just been a case of the best getting better.

Rang De Basanti - playing the eternal college goer at 40 and being able to carry it off. And doing only one movie in three years? And again, that patriotic streak (psyching other Khans into doing patriotism too).

And I can’t think of a single superstar in Mumbai who would have dared to produce/act in a movie like TZP? A movie on kids with learning difficulties – made so sensitively, it touched our hearts. And having been gutsy and visionary enough to do that, how did that man make it a commercial hit too? Beats me.

Then, of course, came Ghajini, and then 3 Idiots. ‘nuff said.

When we have our stars, both from Bollywood and cricket, endorsing everything from underwear to outer space, he’s someone who has chosen to do minimal endorsements. And said no to being waxed at Tussaud’s ( I seem to remember this, but not sure:-)! And doesn’t mind taking a stand on politically sensitive issues. And all the while still being commercially viable and bit of a marketing genius and selling his stuff, even the unorthodox ones like TZP and Peepli Live. I mean, the stuff was great in the first place. But you still need good marketing to sell it well.

And for keeping up too - blogging and twittering and what not. Beauty, with brains! What more can one ask for?

Do I sound prejudiced? Of course, I do, because I am. And I for one, will be rooting for Dhobi Ghat, Delhi Belly and whatever else Aamir comes up with.